Satsuki Shibuya is an artist, poet and spiritual channel whose work represents her way of translating the energy of the unseen, spiritual world into something more tangible in the real world. Born and raised in the constant activity of Los Angeles, California, her work blends the powers of art and spirituality, and it is this combination that allows her to connect deeply with others, more accurately define her art, form her spiritual practice, and better understand her identity as an individual.
Satsuki’s earliest creative exploration was in music, primarily piano and vocals. After spending time in the music industry, she felt herself pulled into the visual arts and pursued that initially through graphic and product design. Following an extended illness that took her away from her profession and allowed her to connect more deeply with her spirituality and her soul, Satsuki was called to painting. With brush in hand, she let emotion and feeling guide her work. She began to explore peace with her own identity as second-generation Japanese by recognizing that belonging is about those in your life rather than where you physically sit. Today, Satsuki continues seeking the harmony her ear was trained to find by translating experiences beneath the surface into something that in turn helps others connect with themselves and the world in a way that often eludes explanation.
Regardless of how her work takes shape, Satsuki knows the purpose is not in the making or the medium. Rather, she creates to express to others what she feels and experiences beyond daily existence with the hope that her art may serve as the catalyst that allows them to discover a deeper purpose for themselves by responding to this energy with sensations all their own.
Written in collaboration with Author and Writer John Bray.
C O N N E C T
Studio
hello@satsukishibuya.com
Representation
Tappan Collective
Breana Latty (Senior Art Advisor)
breana@thetappancollective.com
Newsletter Sign-Up ︎
Satsuki’s earliest creative exploration was in music, primarily piano and vocals. After spending time in the music industry, she felt herself pulled into the visual arts and pursued that initially through graphic and product design. Following an extended illness that took her away from her profession and allowed her to connect more deeply with her spirituality and her soul, Satsuki was called to painting. With brush in hand, she let emotion and feeling guide her work. She began to explore peace with her own identity as second-generation Japanese by recognizing that belonging is about those in your life rather than where you physically sit. Today, Satsuki continues seeking the harmony her ear was trained to find by translating experiences beneath the surface into something that in turn helps others connect with themselves and the world in a way that often eludes explanation.
Regardless of how her work takes shape, Satsuki knows the purpose is not in the making or the medium. Rather, she creates to express to others what she feels and experiences beyond daily existence with the hope that her art may serve as the catalyst that allows them to discover a deeper purpose for themselves by responding to this energy with sensations all their own.
Written in collaboration with Author and Writer John Bray.
C O N N E C T
Studio
hello@satsukishibuya.com
Representation
Tappan Collective
Breana Latty (Senior Art Advisor)
breana@thetappancollective.com
Newsletter Sign-Up ︎
S T A T E M E N T
I want people to feel connected not necessarily with my work, but through it. I see myself less as the artist and more as the medium through which the universe communicates the harmony that moves between us. Love is foundational to every human connection and, with my art, I strive to express the energy behind this emotion through visual representation in whatever form necessary. As a result, my art connects deeply to my spiritual practice and is driven by the energies and auras I experience. This helps guide everything from the medium itself to the colors and the way the brush responds in my hand.
The forces that define us are often experienced beyond day to day life, and I hope to support others by enabling them to experience these forces in a way that is uniquely theirs. I’m drawn to both visual representations in various mediums and the written word, and I combine the two in some of my work as a way of painting with language and speaking with form and color. Working in this way adds depth and detail to how the often-unseen world shows itself to me and allows me to more accurately translate what I experience.
The forces that define us are often experienced beyond day to day life, and I hope to support others by enabling them to experience these forces in a way that is uniquely theirs. I’m drawn to both visual representations in various mediums and the written word, and I combine the two in some of my work as a way of painting with language and speaking with form and color. Working in this way adds depth and detail to how the often-unseen world shows itself to me and allows me to more accurately translate what I experience.
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Born in 1981, East Los Angeles, California
Lives and works in Los Angeles, California
EDUCATION
2009 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Communication Arts, Otis College of Art and Design
2003 Bachelor of Science, Music Business, University of Southern California
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2016
Moments, Show + Tell, Los Angeles, California
Tête-Á-Tête, Salad Bowl, Tokyo, Japan
2015
Flow, Poketo, Los Angeles, California
Into The Light, Do Design, Madrid, Spain
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2022 Waves, Same Gallery (Tokyo) / C7C Gallery (Nagoya) / Lian (Osaka) / Haku (Kyoto), Japan
2018
Los Angeles Invitational Show, George Billis Gallery, Culver City, Los Angeles
Calm Chaos no. 02, Zeitgenießische Galerie, Heidelberg, Germany
GIFC, 0-0 LA, Worldwide
Next Generation Art Party, UNICEF, Venice California (2015-2018)
2016
Palette, Ampersand international Arts, San Francisco, California
Kisaragi No Isidis, Edane, Osaka, Japan
Spatially Speaking, Platform / Tappan Collective, Culver City, California
fresh stART, Santa Monica, California
2015
Soul of Asia, Asia Art Network, KEPCO Art Center Gallery, Seoul, Korea
Soho House x Tappan Collective, Soho House, West Hollywood, California
2014
Good Mail Day, Artstream Studios Gallery, Dover, New Hampshire
Floral Edition 003, Collectif Blanc, Montréal, Canada
The Summer Print Shop, Book Stand, FvF Apartment, Berlin, Germany
LECTURES / TALKS / WORKSHOPS
2023 The Apoteacary Travelling Tea Bar x Satsuki Shibuya, Immersive Sensory Experience Workshop, Super Farmers, Singapore
2022 Crit Crew, Visiting Artist, Thrive Network
2019
Female Identity & Perspectives In Art Today, Panelist, LA Design Festival, Los Angeles, California
Design/Arts Entrepreneur, Guest Speaker, Otis College of Art and Design (2015-2019)
2018
Mindfulness & The Creative Process, Panelist, LA Design Festival, Los Angeles, California
Foundation Forward Alumni Panel, Panelist, Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles, California
2017
Authentic Branding, Workshop, Parachute, Venice California
Explorations in Watercolor, Workshop, Poketo, Los Angeles, California (2015-2017)
2016 Developing Your Intuition for Work and Life, Workshop, Show + Tell, Los Angeles, California
2013
Branding 101, Workshop, Poketo, Los Angeles, California
CONTRAST, Guest Speaker, TYPO International Design Talks, San Francisco, California
P U B L I C A T I O N S
2017 The Uncanny Practice of Entrainment, artwork, Spirituality & Health Magazine
2016
Artwork + interview, Heim Magazine (Russian)
Another World — In the heart of Cascadia, artwork, Cereal Magazine
2015
Embracing the Moment, cover art + interview, Obscura Magazine (English + Chinese)
Editor’s Notes, artwork, Perdiz Magazine (English + Spanish)
Sweets, artwork, Mill Magazine (Japanese)
Kinfolk Gatherings, Kinfolk Magazine
I N T E R V I E W S
2022 Zuihitsu: About the Art, Asian American Writers’ Workshop
2021
Satsuki Shibuya x Vitruvi, Natural Habitat by Vitruvi
2020
Exposure, Carmen Chan
Spiritual Thinker, Artist + Poet Satsuki SHibuya On Aligning Wiht Her Creative Criteria, Glitter Guide
Unconventional Approaches To Art, Career + Health, ART + magic podcast
2019
Satsuki Shibuya: On depth v.s. growth, Dear Artists podcast On Art, Purpose, and Creating What’s True with Satsuki Shibuya, Beyond podcast
Satsuki Shibuya, Watercolor Painter, Author, and Energy Feeler, Energy In Motion Podcast with Ana Ayora & Kelsey Law
2018
Inside, Outside, And In Between Home, Maker’s Magazine
Satsuki Shibuya Transcending Through Watercolor, Water Journal Meet Satsuki Shibuya, Voyage LA
Getting Sick, Losing Everything, and Finding Real Success as a Full-Time Artist with Satsuki Shibuya, Beyond podcast
Satsuki Shibuya Shares How To Learn the Art of Self Expression, Yellow Co.
Self-Care Interview Series: Satsuki Shibuya, Golubka Kitchen
2016
Conversations: Satsuki Shibuya, Faculty
Studio Visit - Satsuki Shibuya, Tappan Collective
Satsuki Shibuya, Creative Lady Collective
2015
Expressing Your Truest Self With Artist Satsuki Shibuya, Well/Aware podcast
All Things are Impermanent with Satsuki Shibuya, Cultural Daily
2013
Talking Spaces with Satsuki Shibuya, West Elm At Home With Satsuki Shibuya, Steven Alan
Contrast Conversations with Satsuki Shibuya, TYPO International Design Talks
P R E S S
2019 Tidying Up ith Marie Kondo, Netflix (artwork appearance)
2018 Soft Focus, Club Monaco
2016
7 Emerging Femal Artists to Watch, Darling Magazine
Tête-À-Tête Exhibition Introduction, HITSPAPER™ (Japanese)
2014
Introducing: Satsuki Shibuya, IDOL Magazine
Watercolor Paintings by Satsuki Shibuya, Obscura Magazine
Satsuki Shibuya Y Sus Acuarelas, Actitudes Magazine (Español)
Artist Crush: Satsuki Shibuya, Art Hound
Gentle and Minimal Watercolor Prints by Satsuki Shibuya, Spoon and Tamago
Weekly Inpsiration, HITSPAPER™ (Japanese)
2019 Tidying Up ith Marie Kondo, Netflix (artwork appearance)
2018 Soft Focus, Club Monaco
2016
7 Emerging Femal Artists to Watch, Darling Magazine
Tête-À-Tête Exhibition Introduction, HITSPAPER™ (Japanese)
2014
Introducing: Satsuki Shibuya, IDOL Magazine
Watercolor Paintings by Satsuki Shibuya, Obscura Magazine
Satsuki Shibuya Y Sus Acuarelas, Actitudes Magazine (Español)
Artist Crush: Satsuki Shibuya, Art Hound
Gentle and Minimal Watercolor Prints by Satsuki Shibuya, Spoon and Tamago
Weekly Inpsiration, HITSPAPER™ (Japanese)